those who helped Dyer set up the details of the gift. “I’m proud of Tim Dyer and the Dyer Foundation and


EMU for saying, ‘Enough’s enough. We’re going to be vigilant on this,’” says Beagen, who has known Dyer for 35 years. “Anything that can be done to eradicate homophobia is im- portant to Tim and to all of his many colleagues and friends.” Because Dyer was so private about his private life, few


knew he felt so strongly about the issue for so long, Beagen says. “I knew he long had a passion for the arts, and forensics and


debate,” says Beagen. “It wasn’t until later that I learned his sexual orientation, and then when he was so strong about the focus on that, my admiration for him was even greater.” When drawing up the agreement, officials wanted to include


a clause noting what to do with the funds if the day comes when homophobia is no longer an issue. “I said as long as there’s something with


human rights involved, you can do almost anything you want,” Dyer recalls. “If there are three people on earth, two of them will gang up on one of them. It’s the nature of the hu- man being. One group seems to want to jump over another group.” In October, Dyer sponsored a panel discus-


sion at EMU aimed at curbing homophobia, and the bullying often associated with it. Dyer recalls being bullied for being short. “I just brushed it off, didn’t pay any atten-


meant racial rights,” he says. “My parents always instilled in us that discrimination of any form was abominable. I think part of it was because we were Catholic, and they felt discrimination quite a bit. They remember ‘Catholics, don’t apply.’ And they abhorred any form of discrimination.”


Education helps


to crush prejudice, ignorance and


hate. The Center for the Study and Research


of Equality and Human Rights will get people


tion to it,” he says. “But other people find it very hard, and are ridiculed on many fronts. Bullying is a form of ignorance. Obviously you must be very insecure if you have to hurt somebody else in order to make yourself feel good.” Gays are the last group of people still discriminated against,


thinking, talking, debating.


sometimes legally, Dyer says, noting that “we’re not 100 percent there on civil rights and racial issues or gender issues, either.” When he was teaching, Dyer noticed that other teachers


would sometimes write off certain students, placing them in rigid categories. “They were too judgmental,” he says. “Everybody has worth,


and we should help get that worth out. Discrimination gets in the way. Discrimination is formed in the fields of ignorance.” Dyer grew up across the street from EMU (then Michigan


State Normal College). His parents—an accountant and nurse’s assistant—never owned an automobile, so they made sure they and their three children lived close enough to walk to work, school and church. Dyer also knew from a young age that he would attend college right across the street, as well. “I grew up in a period of time when human rights primarily


20 Eastern | WINTER 2011


because education helps to crush prejudice, ignorance and hate. And it will get people thinking, talking, debating. “That’s what institutes of higher learning are all about,” he says. “I’ve long forgotten many lectures, and many of the things we learned in school. But I didn’t forget that the main purpose was to teach me to think and reason and investigate.” While acknowledging there are plenty of


I


good causes to support everywhere, Dyer says it was his plan all along to give back to EMU. “I wouldn’t have had the successes I’ve had


in life if it hadn’t been for Eastern,” he says. “The University in my opinion is perhaps the best and only way to continue the causes that were near and dear to you during your life.” Dyer lives half the year in Phoenix, and


the other half in Saugatuck, chosen because it’s an active small town on his beloved Lake Michigan, and only about two hours from


family and friends in Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor. He begins every day reading five newspapers, and enjoys the arts and entertaining friends. “I have very little reason to complain about anything,” he says. For most of his career, he says people probably assumed he


was gay, but nobody asked. “You live in the age you live in, but it’s nothing I hide any


longer,” he says, adding that he also doesn’t “beat the drums” about it. Beagen expects that a few people will object to the Center’s


mission, but says it’s still necessary to address homophobia, bul- lying and hate. “Tim Dyer is a very special human being,” says Beagen. “I


hope his very generous gift will inspire others to support that cause, or others like it. There are so many needs in our commu- nity and at the University that I hope others will say, ‘I wonder what I can do.’” 3


n the early 90’s, Dyer established a foundation in his parents’ names with one simple mission: To help create a world where all individuals are respected for their innate worth.


The Center at EMU will perfectly meet that goal, he says,


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